سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْقَافِ
Surah Al-Ahqaf (46) — Ayah 11
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَوْ كَانَ خَيْرًا مَّا سَبَقُونَآ إِلَيْهِ ۚ وَإِذْ لَمْ يَهْتَدُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَـٰذَآ إِفْكٌ قَدِيمٌ ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And those who disbelieve (the strong and wealthy) say of those who believe (the weak and poor): "Had it (Islâmic Monotheism to which Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is inviting mankind) been a good thing, they (the weak and poor) would not have preceded us thereto!" And when they have not let themselves be guided by it (this Qur’ân), they say: "This is an ancient lie!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And say
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
disbelieve
لِلَّذِينَ
lilladhīna
of those who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believe
لَوْ
law
If
كَانَ
kāna
it had been
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
good
مَّا
mā
not
سَبَقُونَآ
sabaqūnā
they (would) have preceded us
إِلَيْهِ ۚ
ilayhi
to it
وَإِذْ
wa-idh
And when
لَمْ
lam
not
يَهْتَدُوا۟
yahtadū
they (are) guided
بِهِۦ
bihi
by it
فَسَيَقُولُونَ
fasayaqūlūna
they say
هَـٰذَآ
hādhā
This
إِفْكٌۭ
if'kun
(is) a lie
قَدِيمٌۭ
qadīmun
ancient
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
11. And the disbelievers say to those who believe, "If this (religion) were any good, they (the believers) would not have preceded us [15] in accepting it." And since they have not been guided by it (the Quran), they will surely say, "This is an ancient lie [16]."
[15]
The Jews’ Misconception About Themselves:
Despite all this, they are under the impression that the standard of truth is their own exalted selves. Only that can be true which they declare to be true. Then, if they themselves do not consider it true, how can something become true just because a few weak people consider it so? If this religion were something good, how could intelligent and honorable people like us lag behind these slaves and maidservants?
[16] They called it a lie because they considered themselves the standard of truth, and the Quran was against their standard. And they called it old because the teachings of the previous prophets were exactly the same as those of this Last Prophet. They could not call it a new lie, nor were they willing to say that it was an old truth, because from the beginning the prophets have always given this true teaching.
[15]
The Jews’ Misconception About Themselves:
Despite all this, they are under the impression that the standard of truth is their own exalted selves. Only that can be true which they declare to be true. Then, if they themselves do not consider it true, how can something become true just because a few weak people consider it so? If this religion were something good, how could intelligent and honorable people like us lag behind these slaves and maidservants?
[16] They called it a lie because they considered themselves the standard of truth, and the Quran was against their standard. And they called it old because the teachings of the previous prophets were exactly the same as those of this Last Prophet. They could not call it a new lie, nor were they willing to say that it was an old truth, because from the beginning the prophets have always given this true teaching.
